Managing mapping in networks

ABSTRACT

A method for managing mapping in a network includes: programming mapping relationships between a VSAN and a VLAN of a fabric in advance, which include mapping relationships between VSANs and VLANs programmed in advance for each FCoE switch needed by the fabric; obtaining mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs configured currently for all the FCoE switches of the fabric, when obtained mapping relationships are inconsistent with the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships, automatically updating mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs configured in FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships, and/or mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs programmed in advance for the FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships.

BACKGROUND

With continuous development of Internet applications, information neededto be stored by a network server is growing, and this has caused thestorage capacity of the network server to also grow. When the storagecapacity of the network server cannot meet the requirement ofinformation growth, the storage of the network server is typicallyexternalized in order to store the information.

Using a Storage Area Network (SAN) to realize the externalization of thestorage of the network server is a commonly used technique, andspecifically by providing a SAN dedicated external storage environmentfor the network server. The use of the SAN dedicated external storageenvironment takes full advantage of new storage hardware and networktechnology to meet demands, such as storage, access and backup ofhighly-reliable data with large capacity.

In the SAN dedicated external storage environment, a Fiber Channel (FC)protocol is one of the most widely used protocols, and is applied in theSAN dedicated external storage environment to transmit data based on anFC network. However, a relatively large number of switches, networkcards and cables are required to realize the FC network, and this hasbeen known to result in problems, such as high equipment cost,difficulty in maintenance, poor expandability, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example andnot limited in the following figure(s), in which like numerals indicatelike elements, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing mapping relationships between aVirtual SAN (VSAN) and a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) of each FiberChannel over Ethernet (FCoE) switch according to a method for managingmapping in an example;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating adding a mapping relationshipbetween a VSAN and a VLAN according to a method for managing mapping inan example;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating a network environment inwhich aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented according toan example;

FIG. 3B is a flow chart of a method for managing mapping according to anexample;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an apparatus for managing mapping accordingto an example; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus for managing mapping accordingto an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present disclosure isdescribed by referring mainly to an example thereof. In the followingdescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be readilyapparent however, that the present disclosure may be practiced withoutlimitation to these specific details. In other instances, some methodsand structures have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. As used herein, the term“includes” means includes but not limited to, the term “including” meansincluding but not limited to. The term “based on” means based at leastin part on. In addition, the terms “a” and “an” are intended to denoteat least one of a particular element.

In an example, Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) is used to integrate aStorage Area Network (SAN) and a Local Area Network (LAN). In a SAN,there is also a concept of a Virtual SAN (VSAN), which is similar to theconcept of a Virtual LAN (VLAN) in a LAN. In the FCoE, the division of aVSAN needs to map with a corresponding VLAN, i.e., there is acorresponding mapping relationship between a VSAN and a VLAN. In themanagement of the mapping relationship between a VSAN and a VLAN(hereinafter referred to as a method for managing mapping), the mappingrelationship between a VSAN and a VLAN of each FCoE switch may bedisplayed in the form of table, an example of which is shown in FIG. 1.In an example, the method for managing mapping supports adding ordeleting a mapping relationship between a VSAN and a VLAN. FIG. 2 showsa schematic diagram of an example of adding a mapping relationshipbetween a VSAN and a VLAN in the FCoE switch.

However, in the above method for managing mapping, a determination as towhether the mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs of thefabric are consistent in all the FCoE switches cannot be determinedautomatically. Instead, the determination may be made through a user'smanually traversing through mapping relationships between the VSANs andthe VLANs of all the FCoE switches one by one. When checking whether themapping relationship between the VSAN and the VLAN of an FCoE switch hasbeen determined, this determination cannot be directly and automaticallymade. Instead, this mapping relationship may be determined through auser's manually traversing through mapping relationships between theVSAN and the VLAN of the FCoE switch in a table one by one. When amapping relationship between VSAN and VLAN is to be amended, thisamendment may be realized only through a user's manually traversingthrough each FCoE switch one by one to determine whether any of the FCoEswitches is configured with the mapping relationship. If an FCoE switchis determined as being configured with the mapping relationship, thenthe mapping relationship may be amended.

A method for managing mapping according to another example realizes aunified-management for mapping relationships between the VSANs and theVLANs of all the FCoE switches from a perspective of the fabric to solvethe above-problem.

FIG. 3A shows a network environment in which aspects of the presentdisclosure are implemented according to an example. As shown in FIG. 3A,a plurality of FCoE switches 202 constitutes a fabric network. Some FCoEswitches 202 are connected with a server 201, and some FCoE switches 202are connected with a disk device 203. Each FCoE switch 202 saves aVSAN-VLAN mapping table in local memory, and the server 201 may realizea unified management for a VSAN-VLAN mapping table of each FCoE switch202 in the same fabric network by using the method for managing mappingprovided in this example.

Referring to FIG. 3B, there is shown a flow chart of a method formanaging mapping according to an example. As shown in FIG. 3B, the flowchart may include the following blocks:

Block 301: program mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANsof the fabric in advance.

The programmed-in-advance mapping relationships between the VSANs andthe VLANs of the fabric (hereafter referred to as simply“programmed-in-advance mapping relationship”) is programmed by the useraccording to service demands, and includes mapping relationships betweenthe VSANs and the VLANs programmed in advance for each FCoE switchneeded by the fabric. By way of example in which the fabric isdetermined to require five FCoE switches according to service demands,then at block 301, mapping relationships between VSAN and VLAN requiredby the five FCoE switches are programmed.

Block 302: obtain mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANsconfigured in all of the current FCoE switches of the fabric. When theobtained mapping relationships are inconsistent with theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships, the inconsistent mappingrelationships are automatically corrected according to theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships, so that mappingrelationships between the VSAN and the VLAN of each FCoE switch of thefabric are consistent with mapping relationships between the VSAN andthe VLAN programmed in advance for each FCoE switch.

Here, all of the current FCoE switches of the fabric perhaps do notcover all the FCoE switches needed by the fabric. For example, thefabric may be determined as needing five FCoE switches according toservice demands, but before performance of block 302, the fabric mayhave only three of the five FCoE switches, and the other two FCoEswitches may be added into the fabric later. When newly adding an FCoEswitch into the fabric, mapping relationships between the VSAN and theVLAN programmed in advance for the newly-added FCoE switch may beobtained from the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships. When thenewly-added FCoE switch is not configured with the VSAN and/or the VLANin the obtained mapping relationship, the newly-added FCoE switch isconfigured with the VSAN and/or the VLAN in the obtained mappingrelationship, and is then configured with the obtained mappingrelationship. Of course, if the newly-added FCoE switch is not one ofthe FCoE switches that are needed by the fabric, then the currentprocedure is directly terminated or the processing procedure of addingan FCoE switch in the first example is performed.

In block 302, obtaining mapping relationships between the VSAN and theVLAN of all of the current FCoE switches of the fabric may be performedregularly, and/or, be performed under triggering of an operation. Here,the operation may be performed by the user at any time according toservice demands, and specifically may include: updating the mappingrelationships programmed in advance in block 301 (the updating may bere-programming mapping relationships between the VSAN and the VLAN ofthe fabric, or modifying some of the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships), and/or modifying at least one of the processingstrategies set by the user.

In block 302, a determination as to whether the obtained mappingrelationships are consistent with the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships may be made through the following operations:

for each FCoE switch of the fabric,

when mapping relationships between the VSAN and the VLAN programmed inadvance for the FCoE switch was failed to be obtained from the FCoEswitch, a determination that the obtained mapping relationships areinconsistent with the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships ismade, where the inconsistent mapping relationships include thefailed-to-be-obtained mapping relationships between the VSAN and theVLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch;

when a determination that mapping relationships obtained from the FCoEswitch are incorrect according to mapping relationships between the VSANand the VLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch is made, adetermination that the obtained mapping relationships are inconsistentwith the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships is made, where theinconsistent mapping relationships include the incorrect mappingrelationships;

when a determination that superfluous mapping relationships are obtainedfrom the FCoE switch according to the mapping relationships between theVSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch are made,then a determination that the obtained mapping relationships areinconsistent with the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships, wherethe inconsistent mapping relationships include the superfluous mappingrelationships.

In addition, in this example, before automatically correcting theinconsistent mapping relationships according to theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships in block 302, block 302 mayfurther include: determining whether a processing strategy set by theuser is to automatically correct the inconsistent mapping relationshipsor to provide the inconsistent mapping relationships for the user. If adetermination that the user is to automatically correct the inconsistentmapping relationships is made, the inconsistent mapping relationshipsare automatically corrected according to the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships as described above in block 302. If adetermination that the inconsistent mapping relationships are to beprovided to the user, the inconsistent mapping relationships for theuser are provided, so that the user may then determine how to deal withthe inconsistent mapping relationships.

Based on the inconsistent mapping relationships described above,automatically correcting the inconsistent mapping relationshipsaccording to the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships in thisexample may include: when the inconsistent mapping relationships includea mapping relationship between the VSAN and the VLAN programmed inadvance for an FCoE switch that was failed to be obtained from the FCoEswitch, configuring the FCoE switch with the failed-to-be-obtainedmapping relationship; when the inconsistent mapping relationshipsinclude an incorrect mapping relationship that is obtained from an FCoEswitch, deleting the incorrect mapping relationship and configuring theFCoE switch with a correct mapping relationship; when the inconsistentmapping relationships include a superfluous mapping relationship that isnot programmed in advance for an FCoE switch, deleting the superfluousmapping relationship.

It should be noted that when configuring the FCoE switch with a mappingrelationship, if the VSAN and/or the VLAN in the mapping relationshipthat is to be configured in the FCoE switch do not exist in the FCoEswitch, then the FCoE switch is configured with the VSAN and/or the VLANin the mapping relationship, and after the configuration, the FCoEswitch is further configured with the mapping relationship.

Based on the inconsistent mapping relationships described above, theabove-mentioned block of the user determining how to deal with theinconsistent mapping relationships may be implemented in two modes:

Implementation mode (1) which may include:

determining whether the inconsistent mapping relationships are needed bythe network;

if a determination that the inconsistent mapping relationships areneeded by the network is made, when the inconsistent mappingrelationships include a mapping relationship between the VSAN and theVLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch that was failed to beobtained from the FCoE switch, determining whether to configure the FCoEswitch with the failed-to-be-obtained mapping relationship according topractical situations of the network, and when the inconsistent mappingrelationships include an incorrect mapping relationship obtained fromthe FCoE switch and/or a superfluous mapping relationship that is notprogrammed in advance for the FCoE switch, modifying theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships of the fabric according tothe inconsistent mapping relationships, and modifying mappingrelationships of other FCoE switches of the fabric according to themodified mapping relationship of the fabric.

if a determination that the inconsistent mapping relationships are notneeded by the network is made, when the inconsistent mappingrelationships include a mapping relationship between the VSAN and theVLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch that was failed to beobtained from the FCoE switch, modifying the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships of the fabric according to the inconsistentmapping relationships, for example, deleting the inconsistent mappingrelationships from the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships ofthe fabric and modifying mapping relationships of other FCoE switches ofthe fabric according to the modified mapping relationships of thefabric; when the inconsistent mapping relationships include an incorrectmapping relationship obtained from the FCoE switch, and/or a superfluousmapping relationship that is not programmed in advance for the FCoEswitch, determining whether to delete the inconsistent mappingrelationship according to practical situations of the network.

Implementation mode (2) which is similar to the automatically-correctingstrategy and specifically may include: when the inconsistent mappingrelationships include a mapping relationship programmed in advance forthe FCoE switch that was not obtained from the FCoE switch, determiningby the user whether to configure the FCoE switch with thefailed-to-be-obtained mapping relationship; when the inconsistentmapping relationships include an incorrect mapping relationship obtainedfrom the FCoE switch, deleting the incorrect mapping relationship andconfiguring the FCoE switch with a correct mapping relationship by theuser; when the inconsistent mapping relationships include a superfluousmapping relationship that was not programmed in advance for the FCoEswitch, providing the superfluous mapping relationship (the superfluousmapping relationship is identified with a superfluous status marker) forthe user, and determining by the user whether to delete the superfluousmapping relationship.

It should be noted that when configuring the FCoE switch with a mappingrelationship, if the VSAN and/or the VLAN of the mapping relationshipthat is to be configured in the FCoE switch do not exist in the FCoEswitch, then the FCoE switch is configured with the VSAN and/or the VLANin the mapping relationship, and after the configuration, the FCoEswitch is further configured with the mapping relationship.

It should be noted that in the above block 301, in order to ensure thatthe user can visually and clearly look over the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships between the VSAN and the VLAN of the fabric, block301 may further include displaying the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships and markers with which the mapping relationships areidentified, where, for each mapping relationship, when the mappingrelationship is programmed for all the FCoE switches of the fabric, themapping relationship is identified with a first marker that is to showthat the mapping relationship is programmed for all the FCoE switches ofthe fabric; when the mapping relationship is programmed for some FCoEswitches, then the mapping relationship is identified with a secondmarker that is to show that each of the FCoE switches that the mappingrelationship is programmed for may be acquired through triggering of thesecond marker. The programmed-in-advance mapping relationships and themarkers with which the mapping relationships are identified may bedisplayed in the form of a table. It can be seen, in this example, thatthe information of the FCoE switches needed by the fabric is notdirectly displayed, and only a table of the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships between the VSAN and the VLAN of the fabric isdisplayed, i.e., using the table of the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships between the VSAN and the VLAN of the fabric to replace atable of mapping relationships between the VSAN and the VLAN on eachFCoE switch of the fabric, as compared with FIG. 1, may greatly reducetable resources.

The following will describe an apparatus for managing mapping accordingto an example.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a block diagram of an apparatus formanaging mapping between the VSAN and the VLAN of the fabric accordingto an example. As shown in FIG. 4, this apparatus may include:

a storage unit 401 to store programmed-in-advance mapping relationshipsbetween the VSANs and the VLANs of the fabric, where theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships include mappingrelationships between the VSANs and the VLANs programmed in advance foreach FCoE switch needed by the fabric;

an obtaining unit 402 to obtain mapping relationships between the VSANsand the VLANs configured in all the FCoE switches of the fabric, and tosend a processing message to a processing unit 403 when the obtainedmapping relationships are inconsistent with the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships;

wherein the processing unit 403 is to automatically correct theinconsistent mapping relationships according to theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships after receiving theprocessing message, so that the mapping relationships between the VSANand the VLAN of each FCoE switch of the fabric are consistent with themapping relationships between the VSAN and the VLAN programmed inadvance for each FCoE switch.

The obtaining unit 402 may obtain the mapping relationships between theVSAN and the VLAN configured in all of the FCoE switches of the fabricregularly and/or under triggering of an operation. The operationincludes updating the mapping relationships programmed in advance andupdating at least one of processing strategies set by a user.

As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus may further include:

a judgment unit 404 to determine whether a processing strategy set bythe user is to automatically correct the inconsistent mappingrelationships or to provide the inconsistent mapping relationships forthe user after the obtaining unit 402 determines that the obtainedmapping relationships are inconsistent with the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships and before the obtaining unit 402 sends theprocessing message; if it is determined that the processing strategy setby the user is to automatically correct the inconsistent mappingrelationships, then to trigger the obtaining unit 402 to send theprocessing message, if it is determined that the processing strategy setby the user is to provide the inconsistent mapping relationships for theuser after the obtaining unit 402 determines that the obtained mappingrelationships are inconsistent with the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships and before the obtaining unit 402 sends the processingmessage, then to provide the inconsistent mapping relationships for theuser, so that the user determines how to deal with the inconsistentmapping relationships.

In this example, the obtaining unit 402 obtains the mappingrelationships that are inconsistent with the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships by:

for each FCoE switch of the fabric,

when a mapping relationship between the VSAN and the VLAN programmed inadvance for the FCoE switch was not obtained from the FCoE switch, thendetermining that the obtained mapping relationships are inconsistentwith the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships; the inconsistentmapping relationships including the mapping relationship between theVSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch which wasnot obtained;

when it is determined that a mapping relationship obtained from the FCoEswitch is incorrect according to the mapping relationships between theVSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch, determiningthat the obtained mapping relationships are inconsistent with theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships; the inconsistent mappingrelationships including the incorrect mapping relationship;

when it is determined that a superfluous mapping relationship isobtained from the FCoE switch according to the mapping relationshipsbetween the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch,determining that the obtained mapping relationships are inconsistentwith the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships; the inconsistentmapping relationships including the superfluous mapping relationship.

In the above example, when the inconsistent mapping relationshipsinclude the mapping relationship programmed in advance for the currentFCoE switch which was not obtained from the FCoE switch, the processingunit 403 configures the FCoE switch with the failed-to-be-obtainedmapping relationship; when the inconsistent mapping relationshipsinclude the incorrect mapping relationship obtained from the FCoEswitch, the processing unit 403 deletes the incorrect mappingrelationship and configures the FCoE switch with a correct mappingrelationship; when the inconsistent mapping relationships include thesuperfluous mapping relationship that is not programmed in advance forthe FCoE switch, the processing unit 403 deletes the superfluous mappingrelationship. It should be noted that when configuring the FCoE switchwith a mapping relationship, if the VSAN and/or the VLAN in the mappingrelationship that is to be configured in the FCoE switch does not existin the FCoE switch, then the FCoE switch is configured with the VSANand/or the VLAN in the mapping relationship that is not configured inthe FCoE switch, after the configuration, the FCoE switch is furtherconfigured with the mapping relationship.

As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus may further include:

a management unit 405, when an FCoE switch is added into the fabric, toobtain mapping relationships between a VSAN and a VLAN programmed inadvance for the newly-added FCoE switch from the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships; and when the newly-added FCoE switch is notconfigured with a VSAN and/or a VLAN in the obtained mappingrelationships, to configure the newly-added FCoE switch with the VSANand/or the VLAN in the obtained mapping relationships and to furtherconfigure the newly-added FCoE switch with the obtained mappingrelationships.

It can be seen that the above examples may achieve the followingeffects:

(1) through only displaying the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships, the user may visually and clearly look over the mappingrelationships between the VSANs and the VLANs of the fabric, and thisfacilitates modifying and re-programming of the mapping relationshipsbetween the VSANs and the VLANs of the fabric;

(2) the system may determine whether the obtained mapping relationshipsare consistent with the programmed-in-advance mapping relationshipsbetween the VSANs and the VLANs of the fabric. As such, a user need notmanually make this determination one by one according to the table shownin FIG. 1. In one regard, the examples disclosed herein enable rapidjudgment of whether there is an inconsistent mapping relationship in thefabric and rapid positioning of the inconsistent mapping relationship;

(3) through the processing strategies set by the user, rapid batchcorrection of the inconsistent mapping relationships may be realized;further, automatic correction of the inconsistent mapping relationshipsmay be realized, and manual processing the inconsistent mappingrelationships by the user may also be realized;

(4) when an FCoE switch is added into the fabric, mapping relationshipsbetween the VSAN and the VLAN that are consistent with those programmedfor the fabric may be automatically configured in the newly-added FCoEswitch; and

(5) when the mapping relationships between a VSAN and a VLAN of the FCoEswitch of the network are artificially modified, the mappingrelationships between the VSAN and the VLAN of the FCoE switch may beautomatically corrected according to those programmed for the fabric inorder to guarantee normal operations of the network.

It can be seen from the above examples, the examples do not depend onthe user's manual operations to automatically correct mappingrelationships between a VSAN and a VLAN configured on the FCoE switchthat are inconsistent with the mapping relationships between the VSANand the VLAN programmed for the fabric, which may completely avoid theproblems, such as, errors, omissions, etc., caused by the user's manualoperation.

The above examples can be implemented by hardware, software or firmwareor a combination thereof. For example the various methods, processes andfunctional units described herein may be implemented by a processor (theterm processor is to be interpreted broadly to include a CPU, processingunit, ASIC, logic unit, or programmable gate array etc.) The processes,methods and functional units may all be performed by a single processoror split between several processors. They may be implemented as machinereadable instructions executable by one or more processors. Further theteachings herein may be implemented in the form of a software product.The computer software product is stored in a storage medium andcomprises a plurality of instructions for making a computer device(which can be a personal computer, a server or a network device, etc.)implement the method recited in the examples of the present disclosure.

The figures are only illustrations of an example, wherein the units,modules or operations shown in the figures are not necessarily essentialfor implementing the present disclosure. Moreover, the sequence numbersof the above examples are only for description, and do not indicate anexample is more superior to another.

Those skilled in the art can understand that the units or modules in thedevice in the example can be arranged in the device in the example asdescribed in the example, or can be alternatively located in one or moredevices different from that in the example. The modules in the aforesaidexample can be combined into one module or further divided into aplurality of sub-modules.

Although the flow diagrams described above show a specific order ofexecution, the order of execution may differ from that which isdepicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks maybe scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, two or more blocks shownin succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence

The methods described above may be stored as machine readableinstructions in a memory and/or stored on a storage medium. Examples ofa storage medium for storing the machine readable instructions include afloppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, compact disk (e.g., CD-ROM,CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD+RW), a tape, a nonvolatilememory card and ROM). Optionally, it is possible to download the machinereadable instructions from a server computer via a communicationnetwork.

Based on the apparatus for managing mapping provided in the aboveexamples, an example of an apparatus for managing mapping is provided.As shown in FIG. 5, this apparatus for managing mapping is a computersystem that includes: a disk 501, a processor 502, a memory 503, anetwork card 504 and a bus 505. The disk 501, the processor 502, thememory 503, the network card 504 communicate with each other through thebus 505. The disk 501 includes the aforementioned storage unit 401; theprocessor 502 includes the aforementioned processing unit 402 andobtaining unit 403, and may further include the judgment unit 404 andthe management unit 405. The disk 501 stores a software programaccording to the method for managing mapping of the above-mentionedexample. When the system is started, an instruction of the softwareprogram is loaded into the memory 503; the processor 502 reads theinstruction from the memory 503 and executes the instruction, thuscompleting the function of managing mapping, i.e., the functions of theprocessing unit 402, the obtaining unit 403, the judgment unit 404 andthe management unit 405 mentioned above. When the processing unit 402 ofthe processor 502 obtains the mapping relationship, the processing unit402 obtains the mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANsfrom all the FCoE switches of the fabric through the network card 504;when the processing unit 403 of the processor 502 updates the mappingrelationships of the FCoE switch, the processing unit 403 uses thenetwork card 504 to communicate with a corresponding FCoE switch tofinish updating of the mapping relationships between the VSAN and theVLAN of the FCoE switch; when the processing unit 403 of the processor502 updates the mapping relationships locally, the processing unit 403updates the mapping relationships between the VSAN and the VLAN storedin the storage unit 401 of the disk 501 through the bus 505; when themanagement unit 405 of the processor 502 newly adds an FCoE switch intothe fabric, the management unit 405 obtains mapping relationshipsbetween the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for the newly-addedFCoE switch from the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships storedin the storage unit 401 of the disk 501, and when the newly-added FCoEswitch is not configured with a VSAN and/or a VLAN in the obtainedmapping relationships, the newly-added FCoE switch is configured withthe VSAN and/or the VLAN of the obtained mapping relationships as wellas the obtained mapping relationships through the network card 504.

What has been described and illustrated herein are examples of thedisclosure along with some of their variations. The terms, descriptionsand figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only andare not meant as limitations. Many variations are possible within thespirit and scope of the disclosure, which is intended to be defined bythe following claims—and their equivalents—in which all terms are meantin their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing mapping in a network,comprising: programming in advance mapping relationships between aVirtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) and a Virtual Local Area Network(VLAN) of a fabric for each Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) switchneeded by the fabric; obtaining mapping relationships between VSANs andVLANs configured in all of the FCoE switches of the fabric; determiningthat the obtained mapping relationships are inconsistent with theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships and at least one of:automatically updating mapping relationships between the VSANs and theVLANs configured in the FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistentmapping relationships, and automatically updating mapping relationshipsbetween the VSANs and the VLANs programmed in advance for the FCoEswitches corresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships, sothat the mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANsconfigured in each FCoE switch of the fabric are consistent with themapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs programmed inadvance for each FCoE switch of the fabric.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein obtaining the mapping relationships further comprises obtainingthe mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs configured inall the FCoE switches of the fabric at least one of regularly and undertriggering of a pre-determined operation; wherein the pre-determinedoperation comprises updating the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships and processing at least one strategy set by a user.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether a processingstrategy set by a user is to automatically update the inconsistentmapping relationships or to provide the inconsistent mappingrelationships for the user; when it is determined that the processingstrategy set is to automatically update the inconsistent mappingrelationships, at least one of: automatically updating the mappingrelationships between the VSANs and the VLANs configured in the FCoEswitches corresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships, andautomatically updating the mapping relationships between the VSANs andthe VLANs programmed in advance for the FCoE switches corresponding tothe inconsistent mapping relationships; and when it is determined thatthe processing strategy is to provide the inconsistent mappingrelationships for the user, providing the inconsistent mappingrelationships for the user, wherein the user is to update at least oneof: the mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs configuredin the FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistent mappingrelationships, and the mapping relationships between the VSANs and theVLANs programmed in advance for the FCoE switches corresponding to theinconsistent mapping relationships.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining that the obtained mapping relationships are inconsistentwith the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships further comprises:for each FCoE switch of the fabric, when a mapping relationship betweena VSAN and a VLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch wasfailed-to-be-obtained from the FCoE switch, determining that theobtained mapping relationships are inconsistent with theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships, wherein the inconsistentmapping relationships comprise the failed-to be-obtained mappingrelationship between the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for theFCoE switch; when it is determined that a mapping relationship obtainedfrom the FCoE switch is incorrect according to the mapping relationshipsbetween the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for the FCoE switch,determining that the obtained mapping relationships are inconsistentwith the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships, wherein theinconsistent mapping relationships comprise the incorrect mappingrelationship; when it is determined that a superfluous mappingrelationship is obtained from the FCoE switch according to the mappingrelationships between the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance forthe FCoE switch, determining that the obtained mapping relationships areinconsistent with the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships,wherein the inconsistent mapping relationships comprise the superfluousmapping relationship.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: whenan FCoE switch is being newly added into the fabric, obtaining mappingrelationships between a VSAN and a VLAN programmed in advance for thenewly-added FCoE switch from the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships; when the newly-added FCoE switch is not configured with aVSAN and/or a VLAN in the obtained mapping relationships, configuringthe newly-added FCoE switch with the VSAN and/or the VLAN in theobtained mapping relationships and configuring the newly-added FCoEswitch with the obtained mapping relationships.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising: displaying the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships and markers with which the programmed-in-advance mappingrelationships are identified; wherein, for each mapping relationship,when the mapping relationship is programmed for all the FCoE switches ofthe fabric, identifying the mapping relationship with a first markerthat is to show that the mapping relationship is programmed for all theFCoE switches of the fabric; and when the mapping relationship isprogrammed for some of the FCoE switches, identifying the mappingrelationship with a second marker that is to show that each FCoE switchfor which the mapping relationship is programmed is to be acquiredthrough triggering of the second marker.
 7. An apparatus for managingmapping in a network, comprising: a storage unit, a processor, a memoryand a network card, wherein the memory is to store instructionsexecutable for the processor; wherein, the storage unit is to storeprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships between a Virtual StorageArea Network (VSAN) and a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) of thefabric, the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships comprise mappingrelationships between the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance foreach FCoE switch needed by the fabric; while the instructions stored inthe memory are executed by the processor, the processor is to obtainmapping relationships between VSANs and VLANs configured in all the FCoEswitches of the fabric through the network card, and when the obtainedmapping relationships are inconsistent with the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships stored in the storage unit, the processor is to atleast one of: update through the network card, the mapping relationshipsbetween the VSANs and the VLANs configured in FCoE switchescorresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships, and update themapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs programmed inadvance for the FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistent mappingrelationships that are stored in the storage unit, so that the mappingrelationships between the VSAN and the VLAN configured in each FCoEswitch of the fabric are consistent with the mapping relationshipsbetween the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for each FCoE switchthat are stored in the storage unit.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein the processor is to obtain the mapping relationships between theVSANs and the VLANs configured in all the FCoE switches of the fabric atleast one of regularly and under triggering of a pre-determinedoperation; wherein the pre-determined operation comprises updating theprogrammed-in-advance mapping relationships and processing at least onestrategy set by a user.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein while theinstructions stored in the memory are executed by the processor, theprocessor is further to determine whether a processing strategy set by auser is to automatically correct the inconsistent mapping relationshipsor to provide the inconsistent mapping relationships for the user; whenit is determined that the processing strategy set is to automaticallycorrect the inconsistent mapping relationships, the processor is to atleast one of: update through the network card, the mapping relationshipsbetween the VSANs and the VLANs configured in FCoE switchescorresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships, and update themapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs programmed inadvance for the FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistent mappingrelationships that are stored in the storage unit, so that the mappingrelationships between the VSAN and the VLAN configured in each FCoEswitch of the fabric are consistent with the mapping relationshipsbetween the VSAN and the VLAN programmed in advance for each FCoE switchthat are stored in the storage unit; when it is determined that theprocessing strategy set is to provide the inconsistent mappingrelationships for the user, the judgment unit is to provide theinconsistent mapping relationships for the user, wherein the user is toupdate at least one of: the mapping relationships between the VSANs andthe VLANs configured in FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistentmapping relationships, and the mapping relationships between the VSANsand the VLANs programmed in advance for the FCoE switches correspondingto the inconsistent mapping relationships which are stored in thestorage unit.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein while theinstructions stored in the memory are executed by the processor, theprocessor is to, when an FCoE switch is newly added into the fabric,obtain mapping relationships between a VSAN and a VLAN programmed inadvance for the newly-added FCoE switch from the programmed-in-advancemapping relationships that are stored in the storage unit; and theprocessor is to, when the newly-added FCoE switch is not configured witha VSAN and/or a VLAN in the obtained mapping relationships, configurethe newly-added FCoE switch with the VSAN and/or the VLAN in theobtained mapping relationships through the network card and configurethe newly-added FCoE switch with the obtained mapping relationshipsthrough the network card.